"Making guns?"
Hansen stood up with a smile, gesturing towards the busy work area outside the room's glass window: "See that? We have technical experts from gangs and technicians poached from companies. None of this equipment is..."
"So you're still using Military Science's standard weapons?"
Mercer's retort made Hansen's expression a bit grim.
But Mercer merely chuckled, continuing to sit where he was: "What you need is a standardized weapon that can arm large forces, cheap yet sturdy and reliable, and to minimize dependency on Military Science's raw materials as much as possible."
Hansen didn't speak, just turned his head to look at Mercer quietly.
Mercer merely looked around: "Give me a laptop."
As soon as the words fell, Hansen didn't hesitate and signaled the other soldiers with a nod.
Mercer picked up the laptop, opened the built-in wireless receiver, allowing Venus to transfer the gun model data he had created.
"'Glock Simple Slaughter': Even at my shop, using a metal printer, the cost is less than 200 Euros. It's capable of full-auto fire, with a standard magazine of seventeen rounds of 9mm, and can be fitted with a 40-round drum magazine."
Mercer opened the email, letting Hansen see the weapon data metrics.
With a frown, Hansen walked over and took a closer look, after which Mercer continued explaining.
"This one is an intelligent weapon, with the same design but loaded with smart modules. I named it the 'Slaughterhouse' series, available in both pistol and submachine gun versions, using Kangtao Standard Electromagnetic Bullets."
The gun's cost is merely 150 Euros more than the Simple Slaughter due to the fire control chip; if you can acquire qualified microchips in bulk, the price could be even lower."
Mercer pointed at the colorful plastic parts on the gun, saying: "All these non-essential parts are made from 3D printed polymers, and the metal parts can be produced using a metal printer, without needing professional metal lathes.
Of course, considering you've already bought lathes... I also have two self-designed standardized weapon blueprints.
One is a fully metal 'Glock Metal' pistol, the same specs as the Simple Slaughter, but with greatly enhanced durability and reliability.
The other is an assault rifle, standard mag capacity of 35 rounds, simple structure, foldable stock..."
After a brief introduction, Mercer looked up at Hansen and said: "Some of these weapons, I've already created prototypes and tested them."
After speaking, Mercer turned his head to look at the design factory outside the glass, calmly stating: "Or I can make one for you on-site... You have quite the complete set of equipment here."
Mercer wasn't just simply introducing weapons — he was observing Hansen's expression while explaining, clearly seeing the intrigue in using cheap, 3D printed guns.
This indicated that Hansen was currently in need not of a complete replacement of Military Science's standardized weapons, but rather a cheap, sturdy and durable affordable firepower.
Mercer's mind raced as he understood the reason.
Hansen didn't just want them for his own use, but also aimed to snatch the edge market from other companies.
After all, if people have the money for good guns, they surely prefer big company products, so instead of competing in the standard firearm market, it's better to capture the downward market.
In this regard, Hansen and Mercer's ideas were essentially aligned.
"I'm very interested in your 'Simple Slaughter' and 'Slaughterhouse' series."
Hansen straightforwardly stated: "If you can ensure the stability and cost of these two guns match your provided data, then we can discuss collaboration."
Mercer glanced at him, then decisively stood up: "Find someone to buy a disposable pistol from Affordable Firepower's 3D printer."
Hansen merely turned his head to look at someone, and the Netherworld Dog immediately trotted out to buy the item.
The other Netherworld Dog holding a Coke came over, and Mercer took the Coke, drank a sip, coughed, and then closed his eyes blissfully.
But at that moment, people around suddenly stopped finding it amusing.
V stood up next to Mercer, coldly surveying the area, the whiskey she hadn't touched, still seeming a bit angry, clearly bearing a grudge.
Love to laugh... You'll eventually make these fools cry.
Mercer and Hansen walked towards the sunken research factory, casually commenting: "The things you bought are quite nice, but the steel raw material exports needed by these machines are nearly completely blocked.
The upfront cost of raw materials alone means you can't make cheap and reliable good firearms."
"So you chose Affordable Firepower Company's 3D printing?" Hansen no longer put on airs with Mercer. After seeing the two weapon blueprints, he realized Mercer's group's value might be even higher than he thought.
Imagine a hacker skilled enough to silence Taiping Prefecture's Voodoo Gang, and who could also design weapons as a technical expert... Putting on airs? He's already considering how much to offer Mercer!
Hansen desperately needed such technical talent.
Nowadays in Dog Town, all of Netherworld Dog's equipment is heavily reliant on imports, especially dependent on imports from Military Science.
Even these processing devices and manufacturing equipment are bought from Military Science.
Companies today are astute in monopolistic profit-making. While they sell you the equipment, they still control the raw materials. Buying machines is an expense, and once operational, they've got ways to earn the next buck from you.